JPH07162502A - Automatic answering telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the automatic answering telephone set able to retrieve a desired message with a simple one operation. CONSTITUTION:The automatic answering telephone set in which a message is converted into a digital signal and stored in a digital memory 107, and converted again into an analog signal at reproduction to reproduce the analog signal is provided with an address management means (DSP 106) that manages where in a digital memory 107 plural messages are stored, and the reproduction of a 1st message is started by an instruction from the operator the control takes over an address of a succeeding message after lapse of a predetermined time from the reproduction start of one message and the execution is made repetitively to reproduce only heads of all the recorded messages in a form of introduction reproduction.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for reproducing a message in an answering machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a magnetic tape has been used as a recording medium for a message in an answering machine. In order to listen to the message in this manner, it is necessary to send the magnetic tape to a predetermined position and then reproduce it. Therefore, in the case of selecting one from a plurality of message messages, tape feeding and reproduction must be repeated a plurality of times, and a complicated operation is required.

On the other hand, with the recent development of digital signal processing technology, a digital memory such as RAM is used as a recording medium,
An answering machine has been put into practical use in which recording and reproduction are performed by a DSP (digital signal processor).

According to this method, in order to record a message from a communication line, it is converted into a digital signal by an A / D converter and compressed by a DSP and stored in a digital memory such as a RAM. Further, when reproducing this message, the DSP expands the audio data in the digital memory, then the D / A converter converts it into an analog signal and outputs it to the speaker.

The plurality of message messages in the digital memory may be managed by the storage addresses, so that it is possible to randomly and instantaneously select and reproduce the plurality of message messages.

For example, when one of a plurality of message messages is selected, an operation key for skipping a reproduced message is provided, and if this key is pressed during reproduction of the message message, the next message is displayed. If the message is reproduced from the address of the message, the desired message can be retrieved with a simpler operation than the magnetic tape method.

[0007]

However, in the method of skipping the reproduction message by the operation key as in the above-mentioned conventional example, the key must be pressed repeatedly until the desired message is found. As a result, the operation becomes complicated.

An object of the present invention is to provide an answering machine which can retrieve a desired message by a simple one-touch operation.

[0009]

According to the present invention, a message is converted into a digital signal and stored in a digital memory.
In an answering machine that reproduces an analog signal again during reproduction, it has address management means for managing where in the digital memory a plurality of message messages are stored. When the playback of the message is started and a predetermined time has passed since the playback of one message was started, switching to the address of the next message is repeatedly executed.
It is possible to play only the head part of all the recorded message messages.

[0010]

1 is a block diagram showing the construction of an answering machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The MPU 101 is for controlling the entire apparatus, and the ROM 102 is for storing a control program for the apparatus. Also, the RAM 103
Is for storing variables for controlling the device, management data, etc., and the operation unit 104 is composed of various operation keys, a display device, etc. And so on. System data bus 10
Reference numeral 5 is a bus for exchanging data between the MPU 101 and each block, and the DSP 106 is for performing compression / expansion processing of digitized audio data.

The processing of the DSP 106 is performed by the MPU 10
It is started by issuing a command from 1. Further, a ROM for storing a control program necessary for processing, voice data for a response message, and the like, and a RAM for storing control variables are built in the DSP 106.

The RAM 107 is for storing voice data compressed by the DSP 106, and the voice data bus 108 is a bus for exchanging voice data between the DSP 106 and the RAM 107.
Further, the telephone 109 has a call function, a dial function, an incoming call notification function (bell sound), and the like.

The relay 110 is a relay for connecting the communication line 121 to an answering machine (inside the broken line in the figure). Normally, the communication line 121 is connected to the answering machine, but a sensor (not shown) is used. When the hookup of the telephone 109 is detected, the telephone 109 is switched to.

The relay 111 is a relay for switching whether the communication line 121 is connected to the ringing signal detector 119 or the hybrid circuit 112. The hybrid circuit 112 is a circuit for switching a 2-wire signal from the communication line 121 to a 4-wire signal.

The amplifier 113 is for adjusting the gain of the output signal of the D / A converter 116.
Reference numeral 14 is for adjusting the gain of the output signal to the speaker 115.

The speaker 115 is mainly for allowing the operator to hear the message, and the D / A converter 116 is for converting the digital audio signal generated by the DSP 106 into an analog signal. A / D converter 1
Reference numeral 17 is for converting an analog voice signal coming from the communication line 121 into a digital signal and supplying it to the DSP 106, and the amplifier 118 is for adjusting the gain of the input signal to the D / A converter 116. .

The ringing signal detector 119 has a communication line 121.
The call signal from is detected. The call signal detection unit 119 is connected to the system data bus 105 and notifies the MPU 101 that there is an incoming call.

The relay controller 120 controls the relay 110 and the relay 111. Communication line 121
Is connected to the partner station via an exchange (not shown). In this embodiment, an analog telephone line is assumed.

The timer 122 measures time. A certain time is set and started, and when this time has elapsed, the MPU 101 is notified.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the operation unit 104.

The display 201 displays a guidance message, the state of the device, etc., and the answer key 202
Is a key for setting the incoming mode of the device to the home mode or the absence mode.

Here, the at-home mode is a mode set when a person is near the apparatus and is ready to answer a call when an incoming call arrives. In this mode, the communication line 121 is connected to the telephone 109 by the relay 110. Therefore, when a person answers the telephone 109, the call is connected.

The absence mode is a mode set when a person is absent and wants to record a message when an incoming call is received. In this mode, communication line 121 is relay 1
10 and the relay 111 are connected to the ringing signal detector 119.

When the MPU 101 detects an incoming call through the ringing signal detector 119, the relay 111 connects the communication line 121 to the hybrid circuit 112.

As a result, the voice data processing unit centered on the DSP 106 and the communication line 121 are connected, and it becomes possible to perform an answering machine operation.

The reproduction key 203 is a key for activating the reproduction of the message, and the skip key 204.
Is a key for skipping to the reproduction of the next message while reproducing the message.

The repeat key 205 is a key for reproducing the message from the beginning while the message is being reproduced, and the stop key 206 is a key for stopping the operation. The intro reproduction key 207 is a key for instructing intro reproduction, and the delete key 208 is
This is a key for deleting the message.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the format of a management table for the DSP 106 to manage the message.

The message messages are 0 in the order in which they were recorded.
No. 1, No. 1, ..., Unique numbers are assigned, and management information is generated for each message number. That is the message management table 301, and the recording start time and R
Information on the first memory block in the AM 107 is stored.

The memory block management table 302 is R
It manages each memory block in the AM 107. Each memory block is 0 from the lowest address,
Numbers such as 1, 2, ... Are assigned, and the memory block management table 302 represents the connected state of the memory blocks. These management tables 30
Reference numerals 1 and 302 are stored in the internal RAM of the DSP 106.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a command interface between the MPU 101 and the DSP 106.

Reference numeral 401 is a command interface for recording operation. After receiving the call, first the MPU 101
A response message reproduction command is issued to 106 and a response message is sent out. This response message is D
Fixed audio data that is compressed and stored in the ROM built into SP106, for example, “Tadaimarus Nishiteorimas Yokenwo Dozo” is expanded and D /
The A converter 116 converts the analog signal and sends it to the communication line.

This response message is also managed in the same format as that shown in the memory block management table 302, and when the data of the final memory block has been output, the end status is returned to the MPU 101.

Upon receiving this, the MPU 101 receives the DSP1
A recording start command is issued to 06. Then D
The SP 106 receives a voice signal coming from the communication line 121 as a digital signal through the A / D converter 116,
The data is compressed and stored in the RAM 107 as a message. At that time, the message management table 30
1. The memory block management table 302 is created in the built-in RAM to manage the message to be stored.

The recorded messages are numbered 0 in the order in which they were recorded.
A unique number is assigned such as No. 1 ... This unique number is displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 104 when the message is reproduced to notify the operator. The operator can access one of the plurality of message messages by the unique number.

Reference numeral 402 is a command interface for reproducing operation. The operator operates the reproduction key 2 of the operation unit 104.
Press 03 to issue a reproduction instruction to the MPU 101. In response to this, the MPU 101 issues a reproduction start command to the DSP 106. This playback start command includes
The above-mentioned unique number information is included, and the reproduction message can be selected.

Upon receiving this reproduction start command, the DSP 106 obtains the head memory block information in the RAM 107 from the message message management table 301 based on the unique number in the command, and the data stored in the memory is read from the head address. The data is output to the D / A converter 117 while being sequentially expanded. The output signal is output to the speaker 115 through the amplifier 114.

When the final address of the memory block is reached, the next block information is obtained from the memory block management table 302, and the final memory block (end code T
The same processing is performed up to ERM). When the data of the final memory block has been output, the end status will be MPU10.
Return to 1.

If only one case is to be reproduced, the reproduction process is completed. However, if a plurality of cases are to be reproduced successively, a reproduction start command may be issued again to perform the same process.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the intro reproduction operation in this embodiment.

First, in S501, the intro reproduction operation is started. Here, first, the operator depresses the intro reproduction key 207 of the operation unit 104 to give an intro reproduction instruction to the MPU 101. Upon receiving this instruction, the MPU 101 performs the processing from S501.

Next, in S502, the MPU 101 executes the DS
A reproduction start command is issued to P106 to start reproduction of the message with the unique number "0". At that time, the fact that the 0th message is being reproduced is displayed on the display of the operation unit 104.

Next, in S503, the reproduction time is set in the timer 122 and the timer is started. Here, it is assumed that 5 seconds is set.

Then, in step S504, it is monitored whether the operator has pressed the stop key 206 to issue a stop instruction from the operation unit 104. Here, if the stop key is pressed, the step of ending the intro reproduction operation (S509)
Head to.

If the stop key is not pressed, S
At 505, it is monitored whether the timer 122 has notified the elapse of time, that is, whether 5 seconds have elapsed from the start of reproduction. If time has not elapsed here, S504
Return to.

If 5 seconds have elapsed, the message reproduction is stopped in S506. That is, in S506,
A command to stop the message reproduction is issued to the DSP 116.

Next, in S507, it is checked whether or not there is a next message. Specifically, it is only necessary to check whether the end code is set in the area of the next number on the message management table.

If there is a next message message, a reproduction start command for reproducing the message message of the next number is issued to the DSP 106 in S508.
After that, the process returns to S503 and the process for the next message is repeated.

Further, in S509, a command for stopping the message reproduction is issued to the DSP 116. Then, in S510, the intro reproduction operation is ended.

If the above steps are executed, the intro reproduction of a plurality of message messages becomes possible. Further, if each key is pressed during the intro reproduction, it becomes more convenient if each operation is executed. For example, the following operation may be performed.

First, when the reproduction key 203 is pressed during intro reproduction, all the message messages being reproduced are reproduced from the beginning again.

When the delete key 208 is pressed during intro reproduction, the message being reproduced is deleted.

Also, during the intro reproduction, the skip key 20
When 4 is pressed, the message being reproduced is skipped and the next message message is reproduced intro.

Further, the repeat key 20 can be used during intro reproduction.
When 5 is pressed, the message being reproduced is reproduced again from the beginning to the end.

Therefore, by providing the intro reproduction function, it is possible to know the outline of what the message is being recorded by an extremely simple operation.

In addition, since the message number is displayed in the intro reproduction, it is possible to know what number is assigned to which message, and select one from a plurality of messages by this number and reproduce it. And operations such as deletion can be performed. Generally, the start of the message of a message starts from the place where the caller of the other party gives his / her name, such as "Who is somebody."

[0058]

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of messages can be recorded in an answering machine which converts a message into a digital signal and stores it in a digital memory. Address management means for managing where the message is stored in the digital memory is provided, and the reproduction of the first message is activated by an instruction from the operator, and a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of reproduction of one message. Then, by repeatedly switching to the address of the next message message, it was possible to play only the beginning of all the recorded message messages. This makes it possible to perform a search, which has the effect of significantly reducing the labor of the operator.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing an operation unit of the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a management table of the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an interface of the above embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a message reproducing operation of the above embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 ... MPU, 102 ... ROM, 103, 107 ... RAM, 104 ... Operation part, 105 ... System data bus, 106 ... DSP, 108 ... Voice data bus, 109 ... Telephone, 110, 111 ... Relay, 112 ... Hybrid circuit, Reference numeral 113, 114, 118 ... Amplifier, 115 ... Speaker, 116 ... D / A converter, 117 ... A / D converter, 119 ... Ring signal detection section, 120 ... Relay control section, 121 ... Communication line, 122 ... Timer.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. In an answering machine for converting a message message into a digital signal and storing it in a digital memory and reproducing it while converting it into an analog signal again, a plurality of message messages are stored anywhere in the digital memory. Has an address management means for managing whether the first message message is started to be played back by an instruction from the operator, and when a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of playing one message message, the address of the next message message The answering machine is characterized in that the intro reproduction of only the head portion of all the recorded message messages is performed by repeatedly switching to. 2. The number according to claim 1, wherein the message numbers are assigned in the order of recording,
An answering machine apparatus comprising means for displaying the above-mentioned number on a display during intro reproduction. 3. The answering machine according to claim 2, further comprising means for selecting and playing one of a plurality of message messages according to the number. 4. The answering machine according to claim 2, further comprising means for selecting one of a plurality of message messages by the number and deleting the message. 5. The answering machine according to claim 1, further comprising means for reproducing the message being reproduced again from the beginning to the end according to an operator's instruction during the introduction reproduction. 6. The answering machine according to claim 1, further comprising means for erasing a message being reproduced at the time of intro reproduction by an operator's instruction.